Soap-press.



No. 70!,3. Patented May 27, I902.

V r w. s. WATSON.

SDAP PRESS.

(Application filed Dec. 14. 1901.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet I,

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Patented May 27, I902.

No. mum.v

' w. "s. WATSON;

SOAP PRESS.

(Application filed Dec. 14, 1901.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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S 0 A P P B E S 8.

(Application filed Dan. 14, 1901.)

4 SheetsSheet 3.

(No Model.)

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No. 70|,||s. Patented May 27, I902.

w. s. WATSON.

SOAP PRESS.

(Application filed Dec. 14, 1901.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

W W I 9/ i Wm 95%{I i) Q h UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM S. l/VATSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO JOSEPH FELS AND SAMUEL S. FELS, TRADING AS FELS & 00., OF PHILA- DELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SOAP-PRESS.

SSPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 701,113, dated May 27, 1902.

Application filed December 14, 1901. Serial No. 85,935. (No model.)

T all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM S. WATSON, a citizen of the United States, residing'in the city and county of Philadelphia,State of Penn sylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Soap-Presses, of which the following is a specification. 7

My invention relates to improvements in presses for molding material of a plastic na to ture--such, for instance, as soap; and it consists of mechanism for feeding the material, which is primarily formed into cakes of approximately the required shape, either by hand or otherwise, to a mold into which said [5 cakes are guided, so that the latter may be shaped and afterward delivered to an endless belt or to a receptacle of any suitable description, from which said cakes may be taken to be boxed or stored away.

It further consists'of novel details of con.-

struction, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 represents a rear elevation of a press embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a partial side elevation and partial vertical section of certain of the parts seen in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of certain detached portions of the press; Fig. 4

represents a side elevation of certain of the parts seen in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 represents a perspective view of a detached portion of the press. Fig. 6 represents a plan View of certain detached portions of the press. Figs. 7

and 8 represent plan views of certain of the parts seen in Fig. 6. Figs. 9 and 10 represent side elevations of certain detached portions of the press.

The following description refers more par- 0 ticularly to a soap-press, although it will be apparent that the invention will be applicable to pressing other material.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

5 1 designates the frame of the press, in which is journaled the main driving crank-shaft 2, which has secured thereto the driving-pulley 3, around which passes the belt 4, which imparts motion thereto, it being noted that said shaft 2 has also secured thereto the balancewheel 5 and pulley 6, around which latter passes the belt 7, which imparts motion to the pulley 8, mounted on the shaft 9, journaled in the frame of the press.

The shaft 9 has secured thereto a pulley 3 5 10, around which passes a belt 11, which imparts motion to the pulley 12, secured to the shaft 13, journaled in the frame of the press, and which has also secured thereto the pulley 14, around which passes the endless belt or apron 15, the purpose of all of which will be hereinafter described.

The shaft 2 is provided with the crank-arms 16, which impart motion to the connectingrod 17, it being noted that said rod 17is provided with a yoke 18, (see Fig. 2,) in which is fitted the journal-box 19, through which passes the pin 20, secured to the lever 21, fulcrumed at 22 in the yoke 23, which latter is provided with the screw-threaded stem 24, 7o

fitted in the screw-threaded sleeve 25, which latter is swiveled in the frame 1 and against which abuts the jam-nut 26. The sleeve 25 is provided with the collar 27, which is secured thereto by the set-screw 28 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The connecting-rod 17 is provided with a sleeve 29, having right and left hand screwthreads therein, which engage similar screwthreads on said rod 17, so that the latter may be either lengthened or shortened for a purpose hereinafter described.

The upper extremity of the lever 21 passes through an opening 30 (see more particularly Fig. 5) in the slide 31, which latter is guided in ways 32 in the frame 1, as best seen in Figs.

1 and 2, it being noted that said slide 31 is provided with a block or die 32 adapted when in its lowermost position to enter the pocket 33 in the frame of the press. The 0 slide 31 has secured thereto the bar 34, provided with slots 35 to permit said bar tobe either raised or lowered relatively to the slide 31 and is held in its adjusted position thereon by screws or bolts 36.

The lever 21 has pivoted thereto at 37 one end of a link 38, partly broken away, (see Fig. 2,)it being noted that the opposite end.

of said link is provided at39 with an arm 40, secured to a rock-shaft 41, journaled in the frame of the press. The rock-shaft 41 has secured thereto a cam 42, upon which rests the lower extremity 43 of the rod 44, which latter is provided with a block or die 45, located within the pocket 33.

The journal-box 19 is provided with a stem 46, which supports a spring 47, which acts as a cushion for said box 19 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The crank-shaft 2 has secured thereto a bevel gear-wheel 48, which meshes with a bevel gear-wheel 49, secured to the shaft 50, journaled in the frame, (see Figs. 1 and 3,) it being noted that said shaft 50 has secured thereto the disk 51, the wrist-pin 52 of which has loosely fitted thereon one end 53 of a link 54, whose opposite end is pivoted at 55 to an arm 56, secured to the rock-shaft 57, journaled in the frame 1 of the press, it being noted that said shaft 57 has also secured thereto the arm 58, whose extremity has pivoted thereto at 59 one end of the link 60, whose opposite end is pivoted at 61 to a head 62, adapted to be moved to and fro on the frame 1, it being noted that said head 62 is guided in ways 63 and forms a pusher to be hereinafter referred to.

The shaft 9 has secured thereto a pulley 64, around which passes an endless belt or apron 65, it being noted that an endless belt or apron 66 leads from the pocket 33 to the apron 65;and that said apron 66 passes around the pulleys 67 and 68, journaled in the frame 1, and that motion is imparted to said pulleys, and consequently to the apron 66, by the pulley'69 and belt 70.

be'seen that a lever 77 is fulcrumed at 78 to the frame 1 of the press and is adapted to operate a lever 79, fulcrumed at 80, it being noted that one end of said lever 80 engages with a rod 81, as at 82, and is fitted in guides 83, secured to the frame 1. The rod 81 is provided with the member 84 at a right angle thereto and for a purpose hereinafter described. The rod 81 has secured thereto one end of a spring 85, whose opposite end is secured to a fixed point 86, whereupon the tendency of said spring 85 is to retain the rod 81 in the positions seen in Figs. 6 and 7.

The frame 1 is provided with a ledge 87, the object of which is hereinafter described. The frame 1 has secured thereto the guides 88, which direct the cakes of soap 89 to the proper position relatively to the block 62.

The operation is as follows:' The cakes of soap 89 as taken from the cutting machine are not exactly similar in shape, but only approximately so, and in this condition are placed upon the endless belt or apron 15, as seen in Fig. 2. When the press is in operation, the apron 15 conveys the cakes 89 of soap within the guides 88, and after passing over the pulley 14 they drop upon the portion 90 of the frame 1 directly in alinement with the pocket 33 and in front of the head 62. (See more particularly Fig. 1.) The head 62 is caused to move toward the pocket 33 by reason of the disk 51, the link 54, the arms 56 and 58, and the link 60, whereupon the cake of soap 89 in the path of said head 62 will be moved in a direction similar-to that of said head 62 and directed by the latter upon the block or .die 45. The cakes 89 of soap after leaving the apron 15 and on their way to the pocket 33 are caused to pass beneath the sponge 75, which moistens their upper surfaces, so as to prevent any possibility of said cakes of soap adhering to the block or die 32 when the latter is brought in contact therewith. The upper surface of the block 62 in its movements to and fro is caused to pass beneath the sponge 74 and is moistened,thereby thus preventing any possibility of the cake 89 of soap resting thereon when said block 62 has reached a point between the sponges 74 and 75 adhering thereto and also reducing the friction between theunder side of a cake of soap and the portion 90 of the frame 1.

In order to prevent a cake of soap being carried beyond the pocket 33 by the impulse of the block 62, the following mechanism is employed: The crank-shaft 2 in revolving imparts a rocking motion to the lever 21, whereupon the latter will cause the slide 31 to move up and down, and when the slide 31 is moving downwardly the bar 34, secured thereto, is likewise lowered and its inclined portion 91 is brought in contact with the portion 92 of thelever 77, (see Figs. 5 to 10, inclusive,) whereupon said lever 77 will be caused to turn upon its fulcrum 78, and when the slide 31, and consequently the bar 34, has

reached their lowermost positions, the lever 77 will occupy the position seen in dotted lines in Fig. 6. The portion 92 of the lever 77 (seen in Fig. 9 and in full lines in Fig. 6) is in the position it occupies when not in contact with the bar 34. When, however, the bar 34 is in the position seen in Fig. 10, due to the descent of the slide 31, it will be apparent that the portion 92 of the lever 77 will occupy the position seen in said Fig. 10, which position corresponds to that of the portion 92 seen in dotted lines in Fig. 6. When the lever 77 is in the position seen in dotted lines in Fig. 6, it has caused the lever 79 to turn upon its fulcrum 80 and occupy the position seen also in dotted lines in said Fig. 6, whereupon the rod 81 has been caused to move from the position seen in Figs. 6 and 7 to that seen in Fig. 8. It is to be noted that when the rod 81 is in the position seen in Fig. Sit acts as a stop to provent a cake 89 of soap from passing beyond the pocket 33, and at the same time its member 84 has moved the cake 89 of soap which is in contact therewith in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 7, causing said cake 89 to be brought upon the apron 66. When the bar 34 is removed from contact with the portion 92 of the lever 77, due to the upward movement of the slide 31, the levers 77 and 79 and the rod 81 are restored to their normal positions, as indicated in full lines in Fig. 6, by the contraction of the spring 85, which latter was expanded when the lever 7 9 was in the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6 and in full lines in Fig. 8. Then the lever 21 is moving in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, it will cause the slide 31 and the block or die 32 secured thereto, to lower and enter the pocket 33. At the same time the link 38 will exert a pull upon the arm 40, and thus turn the shaft 41, whereupon the cam 42 will be removed from the portion 43 of the rod 44, and the latter, with the block or die 45 secured thereto, will lower until stopped by the portion 42 of the framel. The die 32 travels somewhat faster than the die 45 and independent thereof, so that when the latter is in its lowermost position said die 32 will exert a pressure upon a cake of soap resting upon the die 45, while the latter, as well as the cake of soap, and also the die 3.2 are within the pocket 33. The pressed cake is ejected from the mold by the upward pressure of the cam 12 on thebottom portion of the rod 44, as will be readily understood.

It is a well-known fact that cakes of soap when taken from a cutting-machine vary in size, and when the cakes are compressed to a uniform size some of these offer a greater resistance than others, and for this reason the spring 47 is employed, it being apparent that if the pressure of the die 32 upon a cake of soap has reached its maximum point before the lever 21 has completed its full throw the latter will remain stationary, while the connecting-rod 17 continues to move in the direction of the arrow at in Fig. 2, it being apparent that the spring 47 will then yield, and thus permit the rod to complete its full stroke without causing injury to the press. When the slide 31 is in its uppermost position, the cam 42, and consequently the die 45, is in the position seen in Fig. 2, whereupon the upper surface of said die 45 will be flush or on the same level with the upper surface of the portion 90 of the frame 1, as best seen in Figs. 1 and 2, it being apparent that a cake.of soap when in this position may be moved toward the endless belt or apron 66 and conveyed by the latter to the apron 65, which conveys the cakes of soap 89 (stamped or molded to auni form size) to any desired point, from which they are either boxed or stored away.

It will be noted on referring to Fig. 8 that the forward movement of the rod 81 is completed atrifie in advance of the complete forward movement of the head 62, this being necessary in order that a portion of said rod 81. may occupy a position in the path of a cake of soap to prevent the latter from going beyond the, pocket 33. When, however, the rod 81 is returned to its normal position, as hereinbefore described, it occupies the position seen either in Fig. 6 or in Fig. 7, where upon a cake of soap 89 after-leaving the pocket 33 may pass by said rod 81 on its way to the apron 65. When the block 62 is in the position seen in Fig. 1, it is in readiness tomove the cake of soap 89in front thereof to the pocket 33, and when said head 62 has moved its full extent from left to right the lowermost cake of soap in the guides 88 will then rest upon the upper surface of the head62, and when the latter is again in the position seen in Fig. 1 the head 62 will move from under the cake of soap resting thereon and said cake will drop upon the portion 90 of the frame 1 and just in advance of the head 62.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 6, the apron 66 conveys the cakes 89 of soap to the ledge 87, which latter causes said cakes of soap to turn in passing from the apron 66 to the apron 65, so that when said cakes are on the apron 65 they stand upon one of their narrow sides, so as to be easily handled in removing them from said apron, it being noted that the cakes of soap upon the apron 66 rest upon one of their broad sides.

It will be noted on referring to Fig. 2 that the connecting-rod 17 may be either lengthened or shortened, according to the direction in which the sleeve 29 is rotated, and that when said rod 17 is lengthened it will cause the lever 21 to turn upon its fulcrum 22, thereby raising the block or die 32 to the required degree relatively to the pocket 33, whereupon said die is caused to enter said pocket to a less depth when actuated by the crank 16 than when the rod 17 is shortened, as it is apparent that when the rod 17 is shortened it will cause the lever 21 to turn upon its fulcrum 22, thereby diminishingthe distance between the die 32 and the pocket 33,thereby causing the die 32 to enter the pocket 33 to a greater depth when actuated by the lever 21 than when said rod 17 is lengthened. A similar result is obtainediby rotating the sleeve 25, it being apparent that when said sleeve is rotated in one direction it lowers the lever 21, and consequently the die 32 and when rotated in the opposite direction it raises said lever 21 and with it the die 32 so that when the latter is actuated by the crank 16 it may be caused to enter the pocket 33 to a greater or a lesser depth.

The cushioning device is removed or placed ata distance from the position of the stroke of the dies for preventing injury to the press in the event of irregularity in the size of the material in the dies and insuring regularity in the result.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters 7 Patent, is--- IIO 1. In a machine for pressing plastic material, dies therefor, die-operating means, a fulcrum for the die-operating means, a cushioned journal-block for said means and means for adjusting said block to adjust the fulcrum to regulate the throw of the dies.

2. In a machine for pressing plastic material, a pair of dies therefor, means for operating said dies toward or away from each other,

a cushioned journal-block for said means, an

adjustable fulcrum for the die operating means for regulating the throw of said dies, and means for operating one of said dies at a different speed from the other die and independent of each other.

3. In a machine for pressing plastic material, dies therefor, means for operating said dies toward or away from each other, an adjustable fulcrum for said means, and a cushioning device for one of said dies out' of contact with said dies and at a distance from the position of the stroke of said dies.

4. In a machine for pressing plastic material, means for operating the dies toward and away from each other, a cushioned journalblock for said means, the dies, and means for adjusting the fulcrum of the said means and disconnected from the die-carriers,for adj usting the throw of one of said dies.

5. In a machine for pressing plastic material, dies therefor, means having an adj ustable fulcrum for operating said dies toward or away from each other, means acting direqtly on said operating means independent of the die-carriers for regulating the throw of the dies, and means for guiding the material to be pressed, between said dies.

6. In a machine for pressing plastic material, a pair of dies therefor, means having an adjustable fulcrum for operating the same toward and away from each other, means acting directly on said operating means and disconnected from the die-carriers for regulating the throw of said means and thereby the dies, means for guiding the material between said dies and means for removing the material from between said dies after the said material has been pressed.

'7. In a machine for pressing plastic material, a pair of dies therefor, means for operating the same toward or away from each other and absorbent means for moistening the ma terial to be pressed, and means for feeding a regulated supply to said absorbent means, whereby the same is prevented from adhering to the machine.

8. In a machine for pressing plastic material, a pair of dies therefor, means for operating the same toward or away from each other, means for delivering the material to said dies, and a stop for preventing the material from passing said dies, and means movable with said stop for moving the pressed material to a carrier.

9. In a machine for pressing plastic material, a pair of dies therefor, means for operating the same toward or away from each other,

means having an adjustable fulcrum for operating one of said dies at a different speed from the other and a cushion on one of said dies for adjusting the pressure on the material.

10. In a machine for pressing plastic material, a pair of dies therefor, means for operating the same toward or away from each other, means for delivering the material between said dies, means for moistening said material and means acting directly on said operating means independent of the die-carriers for adjusting the throw of one of said dies to prevent improper pressing of said material.

11. In a machine for pressing plastic material, a pair of dies therefor, means for operating said dies toward or away from each other, means acting directly on said operating means independent of the die-carrier's for adjusting the throw of the dies, means for delivering the material to said dies and a device operated by the movement of one of said dies to remove the pressed material and to prevent the delivered material from passing said dies.

12. In a machine for pressing plastic material, a pair of dies thereon, means for oper' ating said dies toward or away from each other, means acting directly on the said operating means independent of the die-carriers for adjusting the throw of the dies, means for delivering the material to said dies, means for removing the pressed material and carrying means disposed at substantially right angles thereto for preventing the delivered material from passing the dies, and a belt adapted to receive the pressed material and carry the same to a desired point.

13. In a machine for pressing plastic material, a pair of (lies therefor, means for imparting movement to one of said dies, a cushioned journal-block for said means, a lever for imparting movement to the other die and means for adjusting the fulcrum of said lever whereby the throw of the die is adjusted.

14. In a machine for pressing plastic material, a pair of dies therefor, means for impartin g motion to one of said dies, a lever adapted to impart motion of a quicker nature to the other die, and a cushioning device carried by said lever at a distance from the position of the stroke of the dies whereby improper pressing of said material is prevented.

15. In a machine for pressing plastic material, a pair of dies therefor, means for imparting motion to said dies toward and away from each other, means for varying the fulcrum of said means for regulating the throw of the dies, at stop normally out of the path of movement of the material, means carried with one of said dies for moving said stop into the path of movement and means for returning said step to its normal position.

W. S. WATSON.

Witnesses:

ELTON W. LUCAS, v RoY RoBsoN. 

